Operation:
Enjoyable Employment

Vocational Programs for Veterans

Creative Drill Sergeants (CDS) is a Veteran Owned and Operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides our Veterans with economic empowerment and stability through Operation Enjoyable Employment.

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OUR VOCATIONAL SKILLS/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMs ENCOMPASS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT AND SUCCESSFUL veteran REINTEGRATION; ECONOMIC STABILITY.

We provide reintegration assistance through education, vocational skills training, and internship/apprenticeships to assist Veterans with procuring enjoyable employment. We collaborate with mission complimentary organizations and businesses to assist with the transition into civilian life.

Many service members leaving the military are not prepared for the transition and have a wide range of needs that the CDS Mission and Vision address by providing multifaceted approaches to the reintegration of Veterans and their families.

Many of our Veteran students have never attended college, some never finished high school, and for those who did reach higher levels of educational attainment, it may have been many years since their last academic experience. We meet adult learners where they are at through the intake process that allows us to provide education strategies that include creative technical and basic skills development instruction.

We are assisting Veterans that may not have had educational success in the past, or have been away from education for some time with the necessary motivational support, through mentorship, to build their self-confidence and be successful.

Veterans and their eligible family members can join our Expressive Arts Unit to participate in Operation Enjoyable Employment.

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The Creative Drill Sergeants 501(c)3 Nonprofit values the Hemp 4 Warriors Project (H4WP) mission to HELP VETERANS SUCCEED IN THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Transitioning service members who need economic stability have a vast array of opportunities for farming, research, employment, entrepreneurship and more in the hemp industry as it grows.

Our H4WP includes businesses, groups, organizations and individuals that assist our veterans transitioning into civilian life to find successful careers in the hemp industry.

Industrial hemp is grown and cultivated much differently than cannabis for recreational or medicinal use. Our H4WP focuses on Federally legal industrial hemp grown and cultivated for commercial or personal use as materials, food, fiber, oil and much more…

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In today's visual world videography is a valuable vocational skill.

Our Headmaster, Lyle Dillie, is a Digital Arts professor at Estrella Mountain College and he teaches all of our Expressive Arts Vocational Skills Training classes.

Lyle Dillie is an amazing filmmaker and teaches our members all about the film production industry. We also develop and produce video for Member Clients who need visual content.

Free Expressive Arts Industry Vocational Skills Educational Courses Online and In Person for Veterans and their youth age 13 up.

If you are interested in hiring our veteran filmmakers please contact us or sign up as a Mission Support Member Client.

New videography projects and workshops available starting in 2020

Check Out Our Music Performance Program

Our Vets Jam Band Music Performance Program provides our veteran musicians with creative and expressive outlets to share their love of music with the community. This program demonstrates the possibility to earn income as musicians.

Our Vets Jam Bands work very hard to be semi-professional performers. Each group has a myriad of original songs written by its band members.

Please visit the Vets Jam Band page to book a Vets Jam Band performance at your next event.

Become a Mission Support

Support Our Nonprofit by Purchasing All of Your High-Quality Printing and Promotional Products at Wholesale Prices!

All Film Development and Production, as well as Printing/Promotional products for Mission Support Member Clients are done through the nonprofit to directly support our mission and provide experiential skills in these industries for Veterans. Every dollar Mission Support Member Clients’ spend through the nonprofit fund our free programs and projects for Veterans and their families. Veterans also earn a percentage of every printing and promotional product order they bring to the nonprofit.

Classes Offered

Veterans Served

Years In The Making

About Expressive Arts

Expressive Arts research shows it to be effective at augmenting traditional trauma interventions because it provides creative outlets that enhance attention and awareness abilities in productive, corrective ways to promote healing, thus mitigating trauma potentials during reintegration into civilian life.

The CDS Expressive Arts Instruction and Outreach (EAIO) Programs not only promote healing and teach self-advocacy but also translate into positive economic changes for our Members. when learning Expressive Arts skills that lead to enjoyable employment and increase their capacities for career success within the Arts Fields. Our Members learn valuable industry knowledge from our mentors to build networks, start new careers, gain practical work experience, and earn extra income by participating in our Mission Support Program (MSP) . Expressive Arts Instruction, employment skills, life skills, holistic healing education, and Trauma-Informed Care assist CDS and our Instructors and mentors to support our Members suffering from trauma and reintegration issues by eliminating barriers — such as stigmas associated with mental health issues and disabilities – through creative expression to achieve post-service success.

“The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the longest combat operations since Vietnam. The length and nature of these conflicts create many stressors that face Veterans who have served, increasing the chances of having PTSD or other mental health problems. Initial research on OEF/OIF Veterans suggests that between 10% and 18% of OEF/OIF troops are likely to have PTSD (in varying severity) after they return. Though the recent overall Veteran unemployment rate is considered to be low, the unemployment rate for OIF/OEF Veterans with PTSD is believed to be considerably higher. Among 18–24 year olds, the unemployment rate is nearly four points higher among those who have served (16.2%) than those who have not (12.5%). Our most recent generation of Veterans — some as young as 21- and 22-years old — who grapple with severe PTSD are most likely to be unemployed, and their employment status can adversely affect their PTSD.” Source: Click Here

Arts help Veterans heal”: The arts can address one of the reasons a service member or veteran might avoid seeking treatment, since when using the arts, individuals can experience or express their thoughts and feelings without necessarily having to talk about or directly confront the trauma, if they are not ready. One of the most difficult experiences is the transition from military to civilian life. Approximately 14 percent of service members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan meet criteria for depression. Left untreated, depression can increase the chance of risky behaviors, damage relationships, create problems on the job, make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses or even lead to suicide (http://www.naco.org/articles/guest–column–arts–helpVeterans–heal).

Operation:
Enjoyable Employment